Gov. Paul LePage left a state lawmaker from Westbrook an expletive-laden phone message Thursday in which he accused the legislator of calling him a racist, encouraged him to make the message public and said, “I’m after you.”

LePage sent the message Thursday morning after a television reporter appeared to suggest that Democratic Rep. Drew Gattine was among several people who had called the governor a racist, which Gattine later denied. The exchange followed remarks the governor made in North Berwick on Wednesday night about the racial makeup of suspects arrested on drug trafficking charges in Maine.

“Mr. Gattine, this is Gov. Paul Richard LePage,” a recording of the governor’s phone message says. “I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you (expletive). I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that I’m a racist. I’ve spent my life helping black people and you little son-of-a-bitch, socialist (expletive). You … I need you to, just friggin. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you.”

Rep. Gattine: “We need to stay focused on the drug problem we are facing here in Maine and cannot allow this story to be about the governor’s inappropriate and vulgar behaviors.”

LePage later invited a Portland Press Herald reporter and a two-person television crew from WMTW to the Blaine House, where during a 30-minute interview the governor described his anger with Gattine and others, told them he had left the phone message and said he wished he and the lawmaker could engage in an armed duel to settle the matter.

“When a snot-nosed little guy from Westbrook calls me a racist, now I’d like him to come up here because, tell you right now, I wish it were 1825,” LePage said. “And we would have a duel, that’s how angry I am, and I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you, I would not be (Alexander) Hamilton. I would point it right between his eyes, because he is a snot-nosed little runt and he has not done a damn thing since he’s been in this Legislature to help move the state forward.”

Gattine is the House chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, which has opposed some of LePage’s welfare, drug enforcement and other reforms. He said the governor’s phone message was uncalled for.

“Obviously that message is upsetting, inappropriate and uncalled for,” Gattine said Thursday night. “It’s hard to believe it’s from the governor of the state of Maine, but again, we need to stay focused on the drug problem we are facing here in Maine and cannot allow this story to be about the governor’s inappropriate and vulgar behaviors.”

REPORTER’S QUESTION ENRAGES GOVERNOR

LePage left the message after a television reporter asked the governor what he would say to people who are calling him a racist. LePage asked who had called him that and the reporter said he had talked to Gattine, but didn’t say Gattine had called the governor a racist.

LePage then reacted, told the reporters “you make me so sick,” and stormed off.

He later called the same reporters to the Blaine House for an interview, told them he had called Gattine and said he hoped the lawmaker would make the governor’s phone message public. The Press Herald made a Freedom of Access Act request for the phone message, and Gattine provided a copy to the Press Herald around 8:50 p.m.

Related

Gattine has been a longstanding critic of many of LePage’s proposals to reform the state’s welfare system and has blocked efforts by Mary Mayhew, commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, to change eligibility requirements for a variety of programs that help individuals and families with developmental disabilities. Gattine is running for re-election in House District 34, which includes the city of Westbrook. He is unopposed.

Gattine said Thursday that he never called LePage a racist.

“What I said to the television reporter today is that the kind of racially charged comments the governor made are not at all helpful in solving what the real problem is,” Gattine said. “And that is, we have a crisis in the state of Maine of people overdosing on heroin and prescription drugs and we are not doing enough with respect to treatment and prevention.”

GATTINE: MORE EMPHASIS ON TREATMENT

Gattine said he essentially agrees with LePage that drug traffickers must be stopped from coming into the state.

“The law enforcement piece is incredibly important,” Gattine said. “And I don’t really care what the color is of the people that are importing drugs into this state. I think law enforcement needs to be in a position where it can do its job, but in an area where we are really failing is not funding treatment and prevention as much as we should be.”

Gattine noted that a record number of people, 272, died of drug overdoses in Maine last year and the state is on pace to break that record this year.

“And this administration continues to pursue policies that make treatment less available … and I think that’s a huge part of the problem,” Gattine said.

Over the years, Gattine and LePage have butted heads on several issues.

Gattine was among the Democratic lawmakers who earlier this year sparred with LePage over how to manage patients sent by the courts to the state’s Riverview Psychiatric Center. LePage threatened to stop accepting federal money unless the Legislature could figure out how to manage patients. Gattine replied, saying, “It shouldn’t be this hard. If the department (of Health and Human Services) is serious about this, they should be able to answer these questions.”

A HISTORY OF DISAGREEMENTS

After the federal government accused Maine in 2015 of processing food stamp applications slower than any other state, Gattine said the federal warning – the government said Maine’s “chronically poor performance” doesn’t meet federal standards – ripped the state, claiming it was part of a pattern in which the LePage administration repeatedly failed to adhere to federal guidelines. Gattine said people were not getting the services they need.

In a March 2015 guest column published by the Press Herald, Gattine slammed the LePage administration for proposed cuts to seniors’ health care. Gattine said the cuts would force elderly Mainers to choose between paying medical bills and buying groceries.

“It’s infuriating that people who contributed so much to Maine have to show up in Augusta to beg their government not to cut the health care benefits that they have worked on for their entire lives,” he said in the column.

LePage also has criticized Gattine and other lawmakers for opposing a measure that would have made possession of small amounts of heroin a felony. LePage has said the threat of a felony-level crime is necessary to force people to get into drug treatment programs.

“The primary lever for getting people into treatment shouldn’t be to get them into the criminal justice system,” Gattine said. “To me, if we let the problem get that far it’s just another sign of our failure.”

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the guv has you race hustlers and blackfliesmatter chumps number that’s for sure. If Maine wasn’t so damn cold I think I could find a home there, settle in and have some fun myself. I know there’s money to be made there…but for the right person. Lib tards need not apply.

Bill

LePage is desperate for media attention. He’s just acting out to get his name in the press. It’s weird and uncomfortable to watch. Dueling? Cue eye roll.

ChloeAlexa Landry

The same Jackass Governor that is against Transgender in bathrooms. IDIOT ! !

Marcus Maxon

that’s because you lib tards are confused on which one to use.

Inis_Magrath

I can 100% guarantee that you have used a public restroom with a transgender person and had no idea. That’s the thing. Transgender women are women and look like women. Transgender men are men and look like men. You would never know the difference.

Sid Ellis

Oh goodness, you used the truth. I don’t think he can stand truth, or facts, or common sense. Way too difficult. smh

Marcus Maxon

I doubt that and you know too much about this, s l u t…another confused one

Barb Foster

This man is a nutcase and needs to GO! But then many of his have felt this way from the start of his Governorship. He is one sick individual.

Wolfwolveswolf

This U.S. society is being programmed to care about the little tidbits, while the major things of life, the major problems to such, and of which greatly apply to the People and their lives as a whole and individually. Yes such things are purposely being ignored, avoided, or hardly acknowledged. A simple scheme/tactic, towards literally bringing the whole entire U.S. House down.
They (the liberal agenda) are also trying to scare enough People into freely and crazily handing-over/giving-away, the one and only written Law that backs our Power of the People in the United States and protects We the people of the United States from an internal threat of tyranny- and that is our great 2ND AMENDMENT!
For a new sinister system would then be easily able to step into place and take over the once upon a time United States, and as a then powerless people- we could do nothing to protect our selves.
If a person thinks it can’t happen to the United States, they should definitely think again, because it can very easily happen to the United States!
We must be strong, and NOT buy into the wuss-hood.

Inis_Magrath

What does that have to do with the State of Maine having a self-aggrandizing delusional lunatic racist bigot brutish bully for a governor? (*hint* nothing)

CrowMeris

Why you think this has anything to do with LePage’s antics is beyond me.

But I’ll play: I’m a liberal, and a gun owner/user. My well-worn copy of the Liberal Agenda does not mention taking away my guns. Perhaps you can direct me to the correct page?

Tim Bishop

This Mrs B – @wolfwolveswolf- first sentence is incomplete- you forgot to tell what is happening to the ” the major problems to such” ( that phrase is problematic – it isn’t very clear – did you mean “as such”?). I think you are saying they are being ignored. I am so sorry that you feel so scared and frightened. What an awful way to live one’s life. That is why you think you need guns to defend yourself? That is why you started your rant in the wrong news story, isn’t it. I will pray for you. In the meantime find a story about guns for your soap box rant. And remember- your Freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom to assemble are more important and basic to your life than the 2nd Amendment. You would not be able to rant here without them. Think about it.

BrianME

Everyone who voted for this man owes this state an apology. We knew he was an ignorant, uneducated bully with no realistic, viable solutions to Maine’s problems. We knew he was incompetent, over his head, and has no comprehension of how to be a leader. We know he’s making this state a worse place to live and work every day, and yet he was re-elected.

Clancularius

Maybe Gattine should take lepage up on the offer. Traditionally, the challenged party gets to choose weapons though….

Sid Ellis

A pea-shooter should take care of LePage. All there is, is mouth.

Inis_Magrath

Dear citizens of the State of Maine:

What mental illness are you suffering from that you voted for this execrable excuse of a human being for governor? I’m being quite serious. Is there something in your water?

Is it just me or does anyone else get a vision in their head of Lepage being a two year old in diapers throwing a temper tantrum when they don’t get their way.

Tim Bishop

I get a vision of a man with severe anger management problems and a drinking problem to match

Ruggster

I disagree with the way Governor Lepage handled himself but I disagree even more with Gattine. Calling someone a racist is a strong accusation. Unless you have absolute proof of racism, you should never make those claims. It’s a shame that Gattine couldn’t be found guilty of defamation of character. And I really am not talking about Lepage’s politics, lack of tact or brashness. I’m specifically talking about the claim of him being a racist.
I’m a conservative and support Governor Lepage but sometimes wish he’d have a filter between his brain and his mouth.

Sid Ellis

Except Gattine never called him a racist. Check the facts.

Sid Ellis

Naw, he’s got his head in it.

OrangeCountyCA4

So Gov. LePage is not only a racist, he’s also an avowed homophobe.

Tim Bishop

Someone needs to be looking more closely at LePage’s mental health and also his ALCOHOL USE.

Jack Hagan

How much of a “speaking fee” would we need to pay Hillary to leave the second amendment alone?

Bob Roberts

Gatine is just looking for self serving publicity. From direct personal experience I can state that the failed lawyer is self serving incompetentent who cares absolutey nothing about the impact his uninformed ignorant actions have on peoples lives. He is evil incarnate with an entirely false facade. LaPage may be out of line but Gatine representing people is a stain on humanity.

dave taylor

How many of you losers too afraid to post your views on Twatter and MyFace?

woodysway

Duel? Sorry. I thought he said drool.

Charles Martel

I support LePage completely. Great to see a Republican who is down to earth, knows how to fight, and is willing to give you libs a taste of your own medicine. Go. Paul!

Bob Roberts

Gatine is looking for publicity. From direct personal experience I can state that the failed lawyer is self serving incompetentent who cares absolutey nothing about the impact his uninformed ignorant actions have on peoples lives. LaPage may be out of line but Gatine representing people is a joke.

Brian Beland

Your entire post could be said about LePage.
Lets be brutally honest, he’s been in office for 6 years and accomplished absolutely nothing that benefits the state – but he’s done plenty of damage to our reputation. Being a butt of jokes is not an accomplishment, but that’s the only thing he’s capable of doing.

mainefab

Sure what was said was said in total frustration. We all have said things under the same circumstances. That’s not an excuse but a fact.
Mainer’s should be really upset about the drug situation here.
The “mules” bringing drugs into Maine do tend to be of color— at least the ones shown on the news tend to be. So he’s got a valid point there.
Now WHO are these “mules” delivering too – That’s the question.